Way back in the year 1954-55, Resident Magistrate & a SDM were functioning from Parliament Street, to deal with all cases, since, at that time there was no separation of Executive and Judicial functions. In the course of time, a Hony. Magistrate also started functioning from Parliament Street, New Delhi.

A handful of Advocates, who also functioned from Kashmere Gate, moved to Parliament Street with a view to operate therefrom. Notable amongst those Advocate were late Rai Bahadur Suraj Bhan, Late Pandit Pana Lal, Late Shri Mohan Lal Seth, Late Sh. Harish Chander, Late Sh. Pishori Lal and Late Sh. B.S. Mehta. Subsequently, Shri Moti Lal Jain and Sh. H.R. Wadhwa, Advocates also shifted to Parliament Street Courts, New Delhi, followed by Late Shri. M.L. Midha. It was the initiative taken by Sh. H.R. Wadhwa, Advocate that an Association to be called “The New Delhi Bar Association “ was formed and got registered with the Registrar of Societies.

Then came the separation of Executive and Judiciary in the year 1962 and also the amendment made to the Advocates Act, which largely facilitated the entry of advocates in the legal profession, with its liberal provisions.

As the volume of criminal litigation in the metropolitan courts in the New Delhi increased manifold and number of Metropolitan Magistrates were posted at New Delhi Courts to deal with the matters. With the active cooperation of the then members of the New Delhi Bar Association, notably Sh. R.N. Mittal, Shri Moti Lal Jain, Sh. H.R. Wadhwa and Shri S.L. Taneja, the then CEO of New Delhi Late Sh. Radha Raman, was persuaded to provide Addl. Sessions Judge in New Delhi Courts to hear appeals etc., which objective was achieved through the untiring efforts of late Sh. Radha Raman by inducting two Addl. Sessions Judge in Parliament Street Courts. This is how the New Delhi Bar Association developed into a composite body dealing with criminal matters. The strength of the New Delhi Bar Association gradually increased in numbers as the number of Metropolitan Magistrates and additional Sessions Judge increased from time to time. In the year 1977, when shifted from Parliament Street, the New Delhi Bar Association was a family of about 300 members. The total number of the judicial officers were ten at that time i.e. two Addl. Sessions Judges and Eight Metropolitan Magistrates.

Today, New Delhi Bar Association is a family of over 7500 members. Presently, there is One District & Sessions Judge, seventeen numbers of Addl. Sessions Judges & Addl. District Judges, one Chief Metropolitan Magistrate, two ACMMs and Nine Metropolitan Magistrates, one Presiding officer of MACT, five Civil Judges are functioning in Patiala House Court Premises, besides the Family Courts. Apart from the above, Central Office of the Delhi Legal Services Authority has also been operating from Patiala House Court Premises.

The New Delhi Bar Association has produced eminent lawyers, holding high offices in various fields. Prominent amongst them are: Hon’ble Mr. Justice Y.K. Sabharwal, (former Chief Justice of India) Hon’ble Mr. Justice D.P. Wadhwa (retired), Judge of Hon’ble Supreme Court of India. Hon’ble Mr. Justice S.K. Aggarwal & Hon’ble Mr. Justice Vijender Jain (former Chief Justice, Punjab & Haryana High Court), were also the members of the New Delhi Bar Association before their elevation to the Judiciary. In addition to the above, Shri S.N. Dhingra, Former Judge, High Court of Delhi had also been a member of New Delhi Bar Association. Late Shri K.G. Bhagat, Addl. Solicitor General and late Shri Padam Singh Sharma, Senior Standing Counsel, Govt. of Delhi, Sh. Sanjay Jain, Addl. Solicitor General of India were also members of this August Body.

With the increasing strength of the Bar, the need to accommodate the young lawyers also increased. The Executive from time to time made massive arrangements to accommodate the new members by building up chambers and providing them sitting space for smooth functioning. New Lawyers Chambers Complex came up with the great contribution and collective efforts of the executive under the leadership of Shri K.K. Manan. Besides, ‘B.S. Mehta Square’ and ‘Padam Singh Complex’ also came up to fulfill the needs of the lawyers. The efforts made by the respective executive committee under the guidance of senior members are commendable & unforgettable.

Led by eminent personalities like late Thakur Onkar Singh, Late Shri. V.P. Dhawan, late Shri M.L. Midha and late Shri Shambhu Nath, the New Delhi Bar Association made drastic improvements in the court complex. Under the able leadership of Shri S.L. Taneja, Shri R.N. Mittal, Shri R.D. Mehra, Shri O.P. Faizi, Shri K.K. Sareen, Shri K.K. Manan, Shri Ramesh Gupta, Shri D.S. Bhardwaj, Shri Mohinder Saini, Shri Sunil Malhotra and Smt. Santosh Mishra, the New Delhi Bar Association has worked with great dignity and glory. The senior members namely Shri Moti Lal Jain, Shri Brij Mohan Mehta, Shri R.K. Mehta, Sh. J.C. Digpaul, Shri M.L. Sharma, Shri B.R. Handa, Chaudhary Jeet Ram, Shri S.C. Chawla, Sh. Raghunath Kapoor, Thakur Karan Singh and other senior members, the Bar has blossomed like anything.

Several welfare schemes for the lawyers have been introduced. With special efforts by the Executive Committee of NDBA, a Delhi Government dispensary is being run in Patiala House Court premises since 2010. A Homeopathy and Acupressure clinic is also being run adjacent to NDBA Library. The library is also now equipped with the latest case law on-line. Beside, huge books collection in the library is also of great help to the legal luminaries and advocates, operating from Patiala House Court premises. The New Delhi Bar Association is a family of young hardworking and senior seasoned lawyers.

Patiala House Court premises is within the periphery of Hon’ble Supreme Court of India and Hon’ble High Court of Delhi, various tribunals & forums, which enables the members of the New Delhi Bar Association to practice law & right for justice there also. With the efforts of the leaders of the Bar, the space in the building of Ministry of External Affairs and Publication Division has also been made available for the court purposes. Patiala House Court, wherefrom New Delhi Bar Association is functioning has easy access from all corners of the city.

It has been the Endeavour of the of the present Executive Committee to uplift the glory of the Bar & to touch new heights. Efforts have been made to improve the working conditions. Pure drinking water has been provided to the members by installing ‘reverse osmosis plants in two locations in the New Lawyers Chambers Block and on the roof of Central Hall. Time to time, Health Check up camps have been organized in the Court Premises with the coordination of NGOs and Prominent Hospitals.

Last but not the least the information about the above inputs has been gathered from the records available with the offices of the Bar also with the able guidance of the senior members. We may be excused for any lapse in collecting the data/names etc., which might have occurred due to paucity of time. We stand corrected on the advice/information, if furnished later. The present executive is indebted to the efforts, great contribution and cooperation of all the members and I on behalf of my team all wish them all success in the times to come.

I, on behalf of the Executive (2016), once again convey my sincere gratitude, regards and thanks to all the members of New Delhi Bar Association for their generous guidance, kind cooperation, coordination and valuable support.